With so many great works of literature dumbed down and neutered for the moviegoers of middle America, fans of Philip Pullman’s His Dark Materials trilogy will understandably approach this studio-approved adaptation of the saga’s first act with some trepidation.

After all, we know it as Northern Lights but the book’s American title has already taken precedence - despite the instrument in question never being referred to on the page as a compass, golden or otherwise.

It is, however, a more descriptive term than ‘alethiometer’, which is a mouthful whether you’re from Kent or Kentucky.

In the right hands, this fancy gizmo is capable of answering any question, like Google without the pop-ups. It becomes the property of Lyra (Richards), a wilful 12-year-old who lives in Jordan College, Oxford... but not the Oxford we know.

This is a world where human souls take the form of animals – known as ‘daemons’ - and society is governed by the Church-like Magisterium who maintain order with secrets and indoctrination.

So the powers-that-be are rather upset when Lyra’s uncle Lord Asriel (Craig) announces that he has unlocked the secret of Dust – essentially particles of free will which enter adults through their daemons. Dust is what makes us who we are.

Asriel thus plans an expedition to the frozen north, but won't allow Lyra to join him.

Happily, she gets a sniff of adventure when the college’s icily seductive patron Mrs Coulter (Kidman) appoints her as a personal assistant.

But the trip becomes a rescue mission when Lyra and her daemon Pantalaimon (voiced by Freddie Highmore) discover that her best friend Roger has been taken by the notorious ‘Gobblers’, who perform despicable experiments on kidnapped children.

And who should be head of the General Oblation Board (GOB... )? Why, it’s that lady with the nasty monkey daemon!

Assisting Lyra on her quest are John Faa (Jim Carter) and his seafaring gyptians; angelic witch Serafina Pekkala (Eva Green), Texan aeronaut Lee Scoresby (Sam Elliott) and – most formidable of all – the polar bear Iorek Byrnison, a CG colossus with the imperious tones of Ian McKellen.

Even for readers, there is much to take on board. But by channelling the considerable energies of his sterling cast and crew, screenwriter-director Chris Weitz (American Pie!) rips through the story like an auctioneer on speed.

Predictably, Pullman’s religion-challenging themes have been diluted; it should be noted that any anti-religious undertones here are much less overt than the pro-Christian sledgehammering of The Chronicles of Narnia.

But from the other Oxford to the ice kingdom of Svalbard, the production is impressively realised. Richards is a likeable lead and the well-judged performances of Kidman and Asriel bode well for the next two instalments.

So while The Golden Compass doesn’t have time to clarify all the book’s complexities - and Iorek’s battle to the death may prove rather too intense for the really young ‘uns - it’s as welcome a retreat from this old England as Hogwarts, Narnia or Middle Earth.

Elliott Noble